Phillies release Taijuan Walker, per reports

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 17: Taijuan Walker #99 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on April 17, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Philadelphia Phillies have released starting pitcher Taijuan Walker, per multiple reports. In the 2022-23 offseason, the Phillies signed Walker to a four year, $72 million deal that even at the time looked…aggressive.

Fangraphs, in their free agent projections for that offseason , had Walker at around 3 years, $42 million. Dave Dombrowski has a history of being willing to overpay, whether in prospects or dollars, for a player he wants, and he apparently really wanted Walker, who had just put up a 3. 49 ERA in 29 starts for the New York Mets in 2022.

Walker’s ability had long been tantalizing — a supplemental first round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2010*, he was a top 10-20 prospect each year from 2012-14, and made his debut in his age 20 season for Seattle in 2013. He struggled to turn promise into results, however, and was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 2016 season, along with Ketel Marte, in a five player deal that saw Mitch Haniger, Jean Segura and Zac Curtis go the M’s. * Walker was selected one pick before the Tigers took Nick Castellanos, two picks before the Rangers picked Luke Jackson, and six picks before the Rangers picked Mike Olt.

A solid 2017 season was followed by a two year stretch where he appeared in just four major league games due to Tommy John surgery. Walker signed a one year deal to return to Seattle for the 2020 season, was traded to Toronto at the deadline, and his 2. 70 ERA in 11 starts was enough to garner a two year deal from the Mets.